An estimated 19.2 million people watched Donny Osmond last night win “Dancing With The Stars” — the smallest audience for the show’s finale since the first season – and take home the show’s traditional mirrored ball trophy in the season finale of the ABC TV contest reality program.

Helping push Osmond over the top was the tango he performed Tuesday with his professional dancing partner, Kym Johnson. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba hailed his performance as “artistry in motion.” It earned the top score of the final performances.

Osmond, the former teen pop star of the iconic singing Osmond family, said the show has been a highlight in a career of ups and downs.

The 52-year-old showbiz veteran, who headlines at the Flamingo in Las Vegas with his sister, Marie, has been performing almost all of his life, but said that there’s a difference between cutting albums and selling records and dancing competitively.

Donny Osmond now holds the distinction of being the first Las Vegas headliner to win “Dancing’ while having a show on the Las Vegas Strip.

He competed during the show’s finale Tuesday against singer Mya and Kelly Osbourne, daughter of rock star Ozzy Osbourne.

Mistakes on the dance floor during the season weren’t the only missteps of ABC’s live broadcast. At the top of Tuesday’s show, as highlights from Monday’s show ran, the video froze on shot of Miss Piggy, prompting host Tom Bergeron to remind viewers that the broadcast was live and send the show to an early commercial break.

This was the ninth edition of the contest, one of television’s most popular shows. The Nielsen Co. says ratings have been down all season for the show, an indication that viewers weren’t as attached to the contestants as they had in the past.

Bad economy be darn. Caesars Palace opened 110,000 square feet of new convention and meeting spaces on July 13, despite an economic downturn that has Las Vegas convention attendance dropping double digits, equating to 2,441 fewer meetings held this year than last.

The convention area was part of a $1 billion expansion project of Caesars Palace that boosts the property’s total meeting space to 320,000 square feet.

Harrah’s Entertainment in January announced it was postponing construction of the planned 660-room Octavius Tower, but would work to continue the convention area.

The new space is the largest in Las Vegas for Harrah’s Entertainment. The company’s other properties range in size form 160,000 square feet at the Rio, where the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is held annually, to 25,000 square feet at the Flamingo in Las Vegas.

Caesars Palace officials expect the new space will permit it better to compete with similarly sized high-end space at the Bellagio, Encore, and Wynn Las Vegas.

Las Vegas tourists and residents alike enjoy splashing around in pools and trying to cool off as temperatures hit the triple digits. But with our economy languishing in the doldrums, it’s sometimes hard to find enough dough to pay for the experience. So, here’s our Las Vegas Backstage Access listing of the most sneak-friendly pools in Las Vegas. Enter at your own risk!

Tropicana – 3801 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Start at the Reno Avenue entrance at the southwest side of the Tropicana. It’s maybe not the classiest place, but it’s gigantic, including a swim-up bar, blackjack tables, and two separate hot tubs.

Flamingo – 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Go in the parking garage, walk down the metal staircase, go across the street and head directly into the extremely crowded pool area. Could be there is staff members at entrance, but usually not a problem to enter.

Riviera – 2901 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Their very deep pool isn’t fancy with waterfalls, bars and such, but very relaxing. They don’t ask to see a room key to get a beach towel, just think of a name and room number and write ‘em down before you enter.

Artisan – 1501 W. Sahara Ave. Valet park your cark and saunter through the lobby. Features a cool grotto with foliage and comfy lounge furniture. Not a bar at the pool, but you can use the pool phone to call the bar and a bartender will bring your cocktails poolside.

Golden Nugget – 129 Fremont Street Security guards stand sentry at the door, but just look like you’re going swimming, bring your own towels, and wait for families to go through and follow them. Huge waterslide that goes through a shark tank. Very luxurious with cushioned deck chairs and VIP areas.

In an interview with Los Angeles radio station KOST 103.5, the Flamingo headline said it was “not a sensitive issue” for her.

Osmond said she supports gay couples having civil rights.

“I think it’s important to look that at the commandment love thy neighbor as thyself,” said Osmond, who has eight children. Her oldest daughter, Jessica, 21, has been in a gay relationship for three years.

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